Talking international education in Berlin

ENZ’s Germany team organised a meeting in Berlin this week between Dr Mary English (wife of Prime Minister Bill English), tertiary education agent International Education Centre (IEC Online), and Dream NEW scholarship winner Sina Schmiester, a German student set to study at Massey University later this year.

The get-together provided an opportunity to hear different views and perspectives on New Zealand, its education system and motivating factors for German students to study there.

It was also a chance for IEC Online to showcase its activities, particularly as education agents are a main recruitment channel for German students to New Zealand.

ENZ’s Senior Market Development Manager Ute Haug said New Zealand is a very popular English language study destination for German students.

“In Germany, New Zealand is seen as offering high quality and globally-recognised qualifications in a supportive, welcoming and safe learning environment – with the bonus of great lifestyle opportunities.”

Haug added that New Zealand’s appeal goes beyond tuition, and that international students are drawn here because of support networks in place too.

“Even childcare options can be motivating factors for students as we’ve seen with Sina. She will be undertaking her study at Massey with her baby and partner in tow, so she’s happy to know that she will be supported in this regard.”

In the discussion with Dr Mary English, whose family has hosted international students over the years, Haug said it became clear that it is not only international students who benefit from the New Zealand experience, but also Kiwi kids who gain insights into other cultures and learn about other parts of the world.

Germany is the largest source country for European international students to New Zealand and New Zealand’s seventh largest education market worldwide – some 3,300 German students studied in New Zealand in 2015.

IEC Online is one of Germany’s largest education agents sending German tertiary students to New Zealand. IEC cooperates with all the eight New Zealand universities and with five Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs).